Wringer



W. L. KAUFFMAN, an 2 2G237 wRmeER Filed March 17, 19:5? 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTO NEYS.

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRINGER Application March 17,

14 Claims.

Power wringers are commonly provided with release mechanisms. They are also commonly driven through a gear mechanism which is housed in a case at one end of the wringer, the frame of the gear mechanism usually being utilized as a support for the wringer. Wringers are also provided with pressure resetting mechanism for resetting the roll pressure both initially and following a release. The present invention.

is designed to improve the wringer and one of the improvements involves a release mechanism operating through a top bar, the top bar being hinged on the gear case remote from the wringer frame. This permits an upward movement of the top bar throughout the length of the wringer proper when the top bar is released and thus a more certain release of the pressure at both ends of the wringer. It also affords a more convenient leverage for resetting when the resetting mechanism operates on the end of the top bar opposite the hinge. The invention contemplates a resetting mechanism operating on the top bar thus utilizing this leverage and also a release mechanism which may operate through the resetting mechanism. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the wringer, a part being broken away to better show construction.

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the wringer in release position, the water board and hand rest being removed to better show construction.

Fig. 3 an end elevation of the wringer, parts being broken away to better show construction.

Fig. 4 an enlarged view of one end of the wringer on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, an end view, partly in section.

Fig. 6 a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 a section on the line l-'l in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 an enlarged view of an end of the wringer in section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, the top bar being in set position.

Fig. 9 an enlarged view of an end of the wringer, part being broken away to show the gear mechanism, the top bar being in release position and the gear mechanism in stop relation.

I marks the base of the wringer frame, 2 and 3 the side stiles. The side stile 2 may be enlarged to match the fore and aft thickness of the case. Rolls 4 and 5 are mounted in the frame, the roll l having a drive shaft 6 mounted in bearing 1, the

1937, Serial a... 131,338

roll 5 having a shaft 8 journaled in bearings 9 slidingly mountedin the side stiles. A pressure spring l operates on the upper bearing 9 and exerts pressure from the top bar II to the bearings 9 and from them this pressure is communicated to the rolls.

The top bar is hinged at [2 at the outer edge 'of a gear case iii, the top bar preferably forming the top of this gear case. The gear case is arranged at the end of the wringer.

A resetting mechanism in the form of a toggle lever operates on the end of the top bar opposite the hinge. This toggle mechanism involves a lever ll hinged at l5 to the top bar and this is connected through a toggle link l6 pivotally connected at I! with the lever l4 and at IS with the side stile.

It will be noted that by using the top bar as a lever and moving the parts downwardly the toggle lever mechanism may be brought far enough down to bring the pivot i'l below the pivot [B so that the further downward and inward pressure of the lever M will draw the top bar down, the final and greatest efiort being achieved when the links it and ll of the toggle 25 mechanism are practically in alignment.

Preferably the pivotal points of the toggle are not brought quite to alignment but are sufficiently out of alignment that the lever mechanism will release the top bar when the toggle lever is released. To this end the lever it has a hook ii! at its lower end which is engaged by release latch 20 to lock it in its set position. The latch 20 is pivotally mounted at 2i on the base and the latch is yieldingly held in locking position by 3! spring 22 so that when the lever H reaches its lower position it is automatically locked by the latch 20. A rock arm 23a extends from a rod 23 and is adapted to engage when rocked, the rear end of the latch 20, so as to trip the latch. The 40 rock arm 23a is pivotally mounted in ears 23b extending outwardly from the base. The rock arms 24 are also arranged on the rod 23 and are arranged in the path of a trip plate,25 which is of channel form and pivoted at 25a in the sides 26 of the water board or hand rest 21. The plates extend through openings 26a in the sides and are arranged 'at each end of the wringer.

Water boards are arranged at both front and rear of the wringer, and the trip mechanism just 5 described is duplicated at the front and rear of the wringer. It will readily be seen that if any of the trip plates 25 are depressed one of the rods 23 through the action of the rock arm 24 is operated to depress a rock arm 23a and the 55 rock arm 23a in turn operates the latch 20 to release the wringer.

The water board with its sides forms a complete housing for the rod 23 and its attached parts.

A post 28 carries the gear mechanism and a drive shaft 29 extends through the post and into the gear case in the usual manner. Gear 30 is fixed on the shaft 29 and meshes with the reversing gears 3|. The reversing gears are journaled on a shaft 32. vThe shaft 32 is connected by coupling 33 with the drive shaft 6. A reversing block 34 is slidingly mounted on the shaft 32 and is locked against rotation therewith by the spline and groove mechanism 35, 36. The block has the usual groove 39 which is engaged by trunnions 40 in the forked arms 4!. a

The forked arms merge in an operating lever 42 pivotally mounted at 43 on the frame of the gear case. The rod is normally held in neutral position by opposing springs 44 which are secured to the lever and to pins 45 in the case. A handle 46 is slidingly mounted on the upper end of the lever 42. This handle has a slot 41 through which a pin 48 extends, locking the handle with the lever. The lever extends through a slot 49 in the top bar and hooks 50 are arranged at each end of the slot. The hooks 50 are adapted to engage hooks 5| on a crosshead 52 on the lower end of the handle 46. A spring 53 rests on a shoulder 54 on the lever and exerts upward pressure on the crosshead so as to yieldingly hold the handle in its upward position and the hooks 5| in the engagement with the hooks 50 when the lever is thrown into driving position.

In operating, the operator throws the handle either to the right or left, depending upon the direction desired. One of the hooks 5i enga ges a hook 50 at the end of the slot to which the lever is moved. This looks the gears in driving position. This relation of the gear is accomplished by a latching mechanism so that the release mechanism is relieved of any effort in throwing the reversing block to neutral. This effort is accomplished by the springs.

When the top bar is released the upward movement of the top bar carries it up far enough to disengage the crosshead and permit the lever to return to neutral and thus stop the driving of the rolls. The rolls may be stopped at any time by means depressing the handle and thus disengaging the hooks.

In order to retard the upthrow of the top bar when released, stop connections 55 are pivotally secured to the top bar and extend into the stiles. The connections are in the form of connected channels embracing the sides of the upper hearing blocks. Rods 56 extend from side to side of the connection under the upper shaft, so that the upper roll is picked up as the top springs upwardly, thus retarding the movement. The connections form the guides for the upper bearings and are long enough to ordinarily remain in the stiles with the release operation.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; said case extending endwise from the wringer frame, a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame, the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame, said top bar covering the major portion of the case extending endwise from the wringer;

a pressure device exerting pressure from the top gar to the rolls; and a release device for the top 2. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame, the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame, said top bar covering the major portion of the case extending endwise from the wringer; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; and a release device for the top bar releasing the top bar at the .end of the wringer opposite the case.

3. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; said case being opened at the top, a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame, at the end the more remote from the wringer frame, said top bar forming a cover for the case; a. pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; and a release device for the top bar.

4. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame the major part of the distance to the outer end of the case; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top' bar to the rolls; and a pressure resetting device operating on the top bar at the end opposite the pivot.

5. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame the major part of the distance to theouter end of the case; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; a pressure resetting device operating on the top bar at the end opposite the pivot; and a release device operating through the resetting mechanism to release the top bar.

6. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; and a pressure resetting device operating on the top bar at the end opposite the pivot, comprising a toggle lever mechanism.

'I. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; a pressure resetting device oper-'- ating on the top bar at the end opposite the pivot, comprising a toggle lever mechanism; and a release mechanism operating on the toggle lever mechanism.

8. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a reversing mechanism for the gear mechanism; a gear 'case for the mechanism; a top bar extending over the case and pivotally secured to the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame, the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame; means actuated by the extension of the top bar effecting a wringer driving the shaft; a reversing mechanism for the gear mechanism yieldingly held at neutral; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar extending over the case and pivotally secured tov the case to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswisevof the frame, the pivot being spaced in an endwise direction from the wringer frame; and means on the extension of the top bar releasably holding the reversing mechanism in set position and releasing the gear reversing mechanism on an upward movement of the top bar.

10. In a wringer the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and side stiles; rolls. mounted inthe frame; a drive shaftdriving one of the rolls; agear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a reversing device for the" gear mechanism yieldingly held in neutral; a shift lever for the reversing device; a gear 'case for the gear mechanism; a top bar.

pivotally secured to thecaseto swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise of the frame, the pivot being spaced in an endwise mounted in the frame;'shafts for the rolls; bearings for the shafts; a top bar pivotally secured to theflwringer frame to swing on an axis extending horizontally and crosswise ofthe frame, said pivot being spaced'in an endwise direction from a side stile and endwise away from the rolls; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; a release device for the free end iof the top bar; a retarding device connecting the top bar'with the roll shaft lifting the rollwith an upward movement of the top-bar.

12. In a wringer,the combination of a wringer frame, comprising a base and side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism; a top bar forthe wringer extending over the majorportion of the casein the form of a cover and 'releasably mounted with means directing the cover upwardly for release; a pressure device exerting pressure from the'top bar to the rolls; and a safety release devicereleasing the top bar to release the pressure.

13. In a wringer, the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base andside stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a drive shaft driving one of the rolls; a gear mechanism at the end of the wringer driving theshaft; a gear .case for the mechanism; a releasable top bar for the wringer extending over the major portion of the case in the form of a cover and mounted with means directing the cover upwardly when released; a pressure device exerting pressure from the top bar to the rolls; and aresetting device operating on one end of the top bar for resetting the pres- I sure through the top baron the rolls.v

14. In a wringer, the combination of a wringer frame comprising a base and'side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; adrive shaft driving one g of the rolls; agreat mechanism at the end of the 'wringerdriving the shaft; a gear case for the mechanism;.,a releasable top bar .for the wringer extending over the major portion of'the'case in theform of a cover and mounted with means directing the coverupwardly when released; a pressure'device exerting pressure from the top barto the rolls; and a safety release device and a resetting device operating at one end of the top bar releasing the topbar and resetting the same. ,7

'WALTER L. II. 

